Chabad Research Unit - Professor Tali Loewenthal

Explores morning prayer order, bowing in Amidah, High Holiday textual changes, praying for others, forgiveness via shame, and Shema inclusions like Exodus mentions, with Steinsaltz and Chassidic commentaries.28 December 2025sourcesheet: https://files.chabadresearch.net/TalmudTour%20-%20Berachot12a-b.pdf

Explores Divine Name "Ehyeh," redemption promise, Elijah's double plea, and morning Shema timing from dawn distinctions to three hours. Chassidic comments highlight prayer's transcendence, kingship of Jews, and juxtaposing blessings without interruption.7 September 2025sourcesheet: https://files.chabadresearch.net/TalmudTour%20Berachot9b-10a.pdf

Topics include the virtue of praying with the community, the importance of the Halachah (as opposed to varied opinions in the Talmud), physical and spiritual death, the importance of marriage and womanhood, work and study, relationship with one's teacher, the concept of reciting the Hebrew text of the verses of the Sedra of the week, verse by verse, twice, and then the Aramaic translation.20 July 2025sourcesheet: https://files.chabadresearch.net/TalmudTour-Berachot%208a-b.pdf

Explore divine prayer, mercy, and human blessings. Shammai's emphasis on consistent Torah study and kindness. God's prayer seeks mercy over anger. Kabbalistic interpretations connect divine attributes to human actions, highlighting repentance and blessings' impact.22 June 2025sourcesheet: https://files.chabadresearch.net/TalmudTourBerachot7a.pdf

Berachot 6b discusses God's metaphorical phylacteries, symbolizing Israel's praise, and the importance of synagogue attendance. It emphasizes running to mitzvot, prayer's spiritual impact, and rewarding actions like rejoicing at weddings, with Chassidic insights on divine connection.originally given 8 June 2025https://files.chabadresearch.net/TalmudTourBerachot6b.pdf

The Talmud Tour on Shabbat 88a-89a, honouring Shavuot, explores the Giving of the Torah at Sinai. It discusses the Torah’s threefold nature, its dissolution of the spiritual-physical divide, coercion and acceptance, and the Divine Presence. Chassidic insights emphasize Torah’s role in elevating the physical world.originally given 25 May 2025sourcesheet: https://files.chabadresearch.net/Talmud%20Tour%20MatanTorah-Shabbat%2088a-89a%20Giving%20of%20Torah.pdf

Studied in preparation for Lag B'Omer which falls this year on Thursday-Friday 15-16 May 2025. This passage describes Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son having to hide from the Romans in a cave, and the spiritual process which they went through in their understanding of the interface between intense spirituality and life.originally given 11 may 2025https://files.chabadresearch.net/TalmudTourShabbat%2033b-34a%20Rashbi.pdf

Explores prayer and synagogue practices, detailing Abba Binyamin's teachings on prayer timing, bed orientation, and communal prayer. It discusses the Divine Presence in synagogues, Torah study, and judgment, emphasizing spiritual focus and the revelation of G-d's presence through these acts.class originally given 27 April 2025source sheet: https://files.chabadresearch.net/TalmudTour-Berachot%205b-6a.pdf

Berachot 5a-b concerns the topic of Suffering. Hasidic concepts are also discussed, such as Tanya ch.26, which speaks of apparent suffering coming from a higher spiritual dimension, Yud and Heh of the Divine Name.class originally given 30 march 2025sourcesheet - https://files.chabadresearch.net/TalmudBerachot%204a-5a.pdf

In the middle of the discussion about the prayers, the Shema, Ashrei and other prayers, the Talmud includes a brief passage on the origin of the Torah.  We explore this, examining other related texts from Talmud, Midrash, Rambam, Ramban, Tanya.Class originally given 16 March 2025

The importance of Ashrei (Ps 145) which is said 3 times daily, saying Shema before going to bed, and battling against one's inner Yetzer Hara, the Animal Soul.2 March 2025

Discussing the correct time to recite the Shema, the holiness of hebrew letters in the power of creation, praying with certainty for Moshiach16 February 2025

The spiritual meaning of the three 'watches' of the night. The Divine 'roar' at the exilic state of existence. The dangers of entering a 'ruin'. Class Material - http://files.chabadresearch.net/TalmudBerachot3a-b.pdf

From when does one say the Shema in the evening? The Rebbe explains how this first Mishnah in the entire Talmud hints at each of the six Orders of the Mishnah. 'Evening' represents a state of darkness, in which one injects a declaration of faith in G-d, the saying of the Shema.Class Material: http://files.chabadresearch.net/TalmudBerachot2a&Intro.pdf

The Alef Kabbalah group (13 May 2008) explored the unedited Chassidic-kabbalistic discourse taught by the Lubavitcher Rebbe during the week of Parshat Behar 1986. This begins 'When you Come to the Land..the Land should rest" The discourse explores the fact that the Torah text first presents the idea of the Sabbatical year, the seventh year,when the Land rests, and only later describes the work that will be carried out on the land during the six years, ending with a full account of the Sabbatical year. This leads to exploration of the kabbalistic concept 'the end is joined in the beginning', from the ancient 'Book of Creation'. This Torah text gives an example of this (the image of the seventh Sabbatical year being present from the very beginning of the six years of labour) but it applies in all aspects of life, particularly in seeing the eschatalogical goal of Judaism at every step of our daily lives.

THE MILI G. KABBALA GROUP WITH TALI LOEWENTHAL, 14 July 2008. Discussing the Fifth Day of Creation.

12 April 2026This discourse, taught by the Rebbe in 5735 (as a continuation of his maamarim on Yetziat Mitzrayim from Pesach and Shmini that year), discusses the verse "UveRoshei Chodsheichem" and how all Rosh Chodesh are elevated through their root in Nisan - the head of months and month of redemption - linking it to Israel's "kinyan kedem" (acquired before creation), the superior "Anochi" revelation in the exodus as the foundation for Matan Torah, and the ultimate purpose of making a dwelling for G-d below through Torah and mitzvot, leading to the future Geulah in Eretz Yisrael.

THE MILI G. KABBALA GROUP WITH TALI LOEWENTHAL, 23 June 2008. Discussing the Fourth Day of Creation. 

THE MILI G. KABBALA GROUP WITH TALI LOEWENTHAL, 22 May 2008. Discussing Lag B'Omer, Rashby and his teacher Rabbi Akiva, the exploring the theme of the creations on the Third Day.

THE MILI G. KABBALA GROUP WITH TALI LOEWENTHAL, 21 Jan 2008. Exploring the theme of the 'Breaking of the Vessels' hinted at the beginning of the Torah

This is the second part of the discourse that the Lubavitcher Rebbe taught in 5718 on the Shabbat after Pesach. It discusses the transition from leaving Egypt to receiving the Torah and yet further, to the future Redemption. Taught 17 April 2018

Final Episode in Introduction to Kabbalah: 5. From Creation to Redemption  CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ACCOMPANYING POWERPOINT PRESENTATION 'Global Perspective'"

The Lubavitcher Rebbe taught this discourse in 5718 on the Shabbat after Pesach. It discusses the transition from leaving Egypt to receiving the Torah and yet further, to the future Redemption.

THE MILI G. KABBALA GROUP WITH TALI LOEWENTHAL, 25 March 2010. Discussing Pesach - going out of Egypt every day, and the theme of searching for the Chametz of the Soul

Ultimate Freedom From Pharaoh 28 March 2023 Tzav PesachThe Rebbe taught this discourse, which begins with a quote from the Haggadah, 'We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt..' on Shabbat Parshat Tzav in 1988. It explains that enslavement to Pharaoh comes about through a dislocation within the person. His or her outer manifest will is dislocated from their inner, spiritual will.  Bringing about an alignment within the person leads to true freedom from Pharaoh.  This step of freedom took place at the Exodus round 3,300 years ago, and it is re-enacted every year at the celebration of Pesach. But it is also part of the process of our connection with our inner selves  and with G-d, every day of the year.

"Introduction to Kabbalah: 4 / 5. Shabbat and Marriage CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ACCOMPANYING POWERPOINT PRESENTATION 'Marriage & Shabbat'"

The Alef Kabbala Group (20 Mar 07) discussed a discourse by the Lubavitcher Rebbe on Sedra Vayikra, said in 1972 (5732). Most of the Book of Vayikra (Leviticus) concerns the korbanot, the offerings in the Sanctuary or Temple. The discourse explores the spiritual bond of the Jewish people with the Divine which gives them the spiritual power to bring the offerings in the Temple, which bring life and sustenance to the whole world. This relates also to the study of Torah, which likewise expresses an intimate bond with the Infinite

Introduction to Kabbalah: 3 / 5. Prayer and MeditationCLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ACCOMPANYING POWERPOINT PRESENTATION 'Prayer & Meditation'"

THE MILI G. KABBALA GROUP WITH TALI LOEWENTHAL, 14 April 2008. Exploring the theme of the creation of the Firmament, expressing the Attribute of Severity, and the theme of 'sweetening Severity' in the Pesach Seder.

Given at Yom Limud Oxford 2016

The Tzemach Tzedek 1789-1866 - Dr. Naftali LoewenthalDr. Naftali Loewenthal discusses 'Book of Philosophy, Path of Faith' an intriguing book on philosophy written by the Tzemach Tzedek.

R. Shimon Bar Yohai Discussing the image of Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai, sage of the Mishnah and author of the Zohar. Given at the Oxford Yom Limud May 2017

Given at the Oxford Yom Limmud 17 November - Dr Naftali Loewenthal

The Alef Kabbala Group (13 Mar 07) discussed a discourse by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, beginning 'This month shall be for you the first of the months' (HaChodesh hazeh) said on Shabbat of the Sedra Vayakhel Pekudei, in 1987. These words begin the passage in the second Torah Scroll read on that Shabbat, when the coming month of Nisan is blessed. Rashi, at the beginning of his commentary on the Torah, declares that this is the real beginning of the Torah, as a book of halachic teaching. If so, what is the earlier part of the Torah? An account of the spirituality of existence. So the Torah divides in two: the account of the spirituality of existence, and the more ethereal teachings which guide the lives of the Jewish people.

Introduction to Kabbalah: 2 / 5. Torah Study and MitzvotCLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ACCOMPANYING POWERPOINT PRESENTATION 'Torah & Mitzvot'"

Tali Loewenthal speaking on "Rabbi Menachem Schneerson's Theory of Spiritual Leadership" at the Summer Seminar at the Oxford Chabad House, July 2011.

Bati LeGani; of the last two Lubavitcher Rebbes - a literary edifice of the 20th century: Rabbi Joseph Isaac Shneersohn taught the first version of his Bati LeGani discourse in 1923, and issued it for study in 1939 and again in 1950, for Yud Shevat, the day he passed away. The discussions of it in a stream of discourses by his successor R. Menachem Mendel, the 7th Rebbe, fill two fascinating volumes.

Oxford Yom Limmud - Dr Tali LoewenthalFrom the Zohar to Chassidic Teachings

'WAS THE RAMBAM A RATIONALIST OR A MYSTIC?' OTTAWA, APRIL 2008, talk by Tali Loewenthal in the home of Dr Yosef and Devora Caytak

Professor Tali Loewenthal's talk in the Lubavitch Yeshiva in London on 'Contemplative Prayer leading to inner and General Redemption' (July 09).

Professor Kate-Miriam Loewenthal speaking at the Sinai Scholars Conference, Dartmouth College, USA in April 2010 on "A Chabad Woman in the academic world of psychology".

A talk at the Yom Limmud of Sunday 2 September 2012 at the David Slager Oxford Chabad Centre by Tali Loewenthal on 'Models of Inclusivism' in the Jewish community in the 18th-20th centuries, focusing on the founder of Chassidism, Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liady, founder of Chabad, and the thought of Rabbi Menachem Schneerson. 

Commemorating the 200th Yahrzeit of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, 24 Tevet 5573-5773 (1813-2013) this talk by Tali Loewenthal was given at a Chassidic gathering at the Or HaTorah Library in Stamford Hill, London. 'Seven Dorot of Avodat HaTefilah' - '7 Generations of Spiritual Prayer'. A major focus of Rabbi Shneur Zalman's teachings and those of his successors concerns intense spiritual prayer.

Introduction to Kabbalah: 1 / 5. History of the Kabbalistic TraditionCLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ACCOMPANYING POWERPOINT PRESENTATION 'History'"

Dr. Tali Loewenthal speaking at the London School of Jewish Studies, 21 November 2011, on the themes Tzimtzum, the Breaking of the Vessels and Tikkun in Kabalistic-Chassidic thought.

7 May 2007, a talk by Dr Tali Loewenthal for the Dublin Hebrew Congregation entitled "Bored with your Judaism? - Make it relevant and inspiring in modern times!". 

A talk given by Dr. Tali Loewenthal at the Encounter Conference, London, December 1997. This provides some simple techniques for making one's experience of prayer more 'spiritual' using basic Chabad teachings on prayer and contemplation.

"JUDAISM AND MODERNITY", a talk by Tali Loewenthal at Sutton Synagoge, November 2008. This talk was given in memory of Rabbi Yitzhak David Groner, head of Lubavitch in Australia. His grandson, Rabbi Avraham Groner, is the Rabbi of Sutton. Rabbi A Groner introduced the speaker.